Commencement = 123 = Matriculate

Students matriculate with commencement in mind.

C+O+M+M+E+N+C+E+M+E+N+T = 123 = M+A+T+R+I+C+U+L+A+T+E

"A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success.” - Robert Purvis

"There is a good reason they call these ceremonies 'commencement exercises'. Graduation is not the end, it's the beginning.” - Orrin Hatch

“I grew up in the '40s and I heard all these great speeches, like Winston Churchill. His most famous, or infamous commencement exercise speech was one that consisted of seven words. He stood before this graduating class and said: 'Never, never, never, never give up.'” - Johnny Cash